Blood (Kendrick Lamar song)

Last updated
"Blood"
Song by Kendrick Lamar
from the album Damn
Recorded2017
Genre
Length1:58
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • Bēkon
  • Tiffith

"Blood" (stylized as "BLOOD.") is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his fourth studio album Damn , released on April 14, 2017. As the opening track on the album (fourteenth and final on the Collector's Edition of Damn [2] ), the song was written by Lamar, Daniel Tannenbaum, and Anthony Tiffith, and produced by Bēkon and Tiffith. [1]

Contents

Composition

The track consists of Lamar telling a story in which he is shot by a blind woman he's trying to help. [3] According to Genius , the woman represents the consequences that leads to Damnation from the Book of Deuteronomy. [4] [5] The intro is followed by audio of Fox News' reporters criticizing Lamar. [6]

Lamar himself has stated the intro as a struggle between wickedness and weakness, essentially the battle between good and evil. [7]

Samples

The track contains an excerpt from Fox News' The Five members Eric Bolling, Kimberly Guilfoyle, and Geraldo Rivera criticizing Lamar's performance of "Alright" at the 2015 BET Awards. [3] [4] [8] [9] [10] [11] Lamar would later call out Rivera and Fox News on the album's third track, "Yah". [5] [12]

Critical reception

According to rap-up.com, the song is enough for one to say "DAMN." (a play on the title of the album), and begs the listener to "further analyze the flawed system [the song] dissects." [3]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from the official Damn digital booklet. [1]

Charts

Chart (2017)Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [13] 41
Czech Republic (Singles Digitál Top 100) [14] 98
France (SNEP) [15] 119
Ireland (IRMA) [16] 41
Netherlands (Single Top 100) [17] 69
New Zealand Heatseekers (Recorded Music NZ) [18] 1
Portugal (AFP) [19] 38
Slovakia (Singles Digitál Top 100) [20] 59
Sweden (Sverigetopplistan) [21] 95
UK Singles (OCC) [22] 56
US Billboard Hot 100 [23] 54
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [24] 31

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [25] Gold40,000Double-dagger-14-plain.png
United States (RIAA) [26] Gold500,000Double-dagger-14-plain.png

Double-dagger-14-plain.png Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

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"Yah" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his fourth studio album Damn, released on April 14, 2017. The third track on the album, the song was written by Lamar, Mark Spears, a.k.a. Sounwave, DJ Dahi, and Anthony Tiffith, and produced by, Sounwave, DJ Dahi, and Tiffith, with additional production by Bēkon.

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"Feel" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his fourth studio album Damn, released on April 14, 2017. The fifth track on the album, the song was written by Lamar and Mark Spears, a.k.a. Sounwave, and produced by Sounwave. The song features bass from bass guitarist Thundercat and vocals from Chelsea Blythe.

"Pride." is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, taken from his fourth studio album Damn, released on April 14, 2017. The seventh track on the album, the song was written by Lamar, Steve Lacy, Anna Wise, and Anthony Tiffith, and produced by Lacy and Tiffith, with additional production by Bēkon. "Pride" charted in multiple countries in 2017.

"Lust" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his fourth studio album Damn, released on April 14, 2017. The ninth track on the album, the song was written by Lamar, DJ Dahi, Mark Spears a.k.a. Sounwave, and BadBadNotGood, and was produced by DJ Dahi, Sounwave, and BadBadNotGood. The song features uncredited guest vocals from record producer Kaytranada. Although not released as a single, the song charted in multiple countries in 2017.

"Love" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his fourth studio album Damn, released on April 14, 2017. The tenth track on the album, the song was written by Lamar, Zacari Pacaldo, Teddy Walton, Sounwave, Greg Kurstin, and Anthony Tiffith, and produced by the latter four. The song features soul singer Zacari, who is one of three credited musicians on Damn, the others being Barbadian singer Rihanna on "Loyalty", and Irish rock band U2 on "XXX." The song was later sent to rhythmic radio as the album's third single October 2, 2017.

"XXX" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his fourth studio album Damn, released on April 14, 2017. The eleventh track on the album, the song was written by Lamar, Mike Will Made It, DJ Dahi, Mark Spears a.k.a. Sounwave, Anthony Tiffith, Bono, the Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr., and produced by Mike Will Made It, DJ Dahi, and Sounwave, with additional production by Top Dawg and Bēkon. The song features samples of the songs "America" by Bēkon and "American Soul" by Irish rock band U2. Although not released as a single, the song charted in multiple countries in 2017. These countries include Ireland, New Zealand, United States of America, Canada, United Kingdom, and Sweden. Though it only appeared for 1 week for the New Zealand, Sweden, and United Kingdom charts, it stayed for 3 weeks on Ireland and United States charts, and remained on the Canada music charts for 4 weeks. The highest the song ever reached on any country's primary music chart was at number 22 in Ireland.

"Fear" is a song by American rapper Kendrick Lamar, from his fourth studio album DAMN., released on April 14, 2017. The twelfth track on the album, the song was written by Kendrick and produced by The Alchemist, with additional production by Bēkon. At seven minutes and forty-one seconds, it is the longest song on the album. Although not released as a single, the song charted in multiple countries in 2017.

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References

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  2. India, Lindsey (December 8, 2017). "Kendrick Lamar Surprises Fans With 'Damn.' Collector's Edition". XXL . Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  3. 1 2 3 Tardio, Andres (April 20, 2017). "14 Times Kendrick Lamar Made Us Say 'DAMN.' on His Album". Rap-Up . Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  4. 1 2 Kendrick Lamar – BLOOD. , retrieved April 24, 2017
  5. 1 2 Cook-Wilson, Winston (April 14, 2017). "Lil Yachty's Reaction to Kendrick Lamar's "BLOOD." is Extremely Good". Spin . Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  6. "Kendrick Lamar's 'Damn.': A Track-by-Track Guide". Rolling Stone . April 14, 2017. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  7. Britton, Luke Morgan (April 14, 2017). "Kendrick Lamar - 'DAMN.': First-listen track-by-track review – NME". NME . Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  8. "Watch the Fox News Clip Kendrick Lamar Sampled on 'DAMN.' - XXL". XXL . Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  9. Genius (April 17, 2017), Every Sample On Kendrick Lamar’s ‘DAMN.’ , retrieved April 24, 2017
  10. Carter, Terry. "Kendrick Lamar Calls Out Fox News and Geraldo Rivera on His New Album". POPSUGAR News. Retrieved April 24, 2017.
  11. "Kendrick Lamar's 'BLOOD.' – Discover the Sample Source". WhoSampled . Retrieved April 24, 2017.
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  19. "Kendrick Lamar – Blood.". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved April 28, 2017.
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